Free Falling (short story)
Short story with @dragonkingteo @nero-the-fallen @smolderingempress @elderchameleos @ask-the-thunder-strike-mizutsune @black-dragon-fortress and @kushasfrozengale
(thanks for letting me “steal” your characters)
Edit - changed all of Black’s pronouns to “they”
Google docs link if you want a nicer format.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E969RZrjO6yOeLnejzsf4_GMdvmecM9yvS4w6LiEQvE/edit?usp=sharing
You could call him a bad boy. He sauntered up to the counter ofThe Empress. A cocky move considering that it was at the border between two gang territories. To the north was Kusha’s gang, to the south was Teo’s. But this wasn’t any ordinary bad boy. He went straight to the bar to the flaming beauty at the counter.
“Hey Luna.” he said, lowering his sunglasses and wiggling his eyebrows at her.
She sharply turned around.
“Look what the cat dragged in. What’ll it be this time? A shot of Fireball? Or a hasty escape in the back?”
Her head cocked to the side, one severe eyebrow slightly raised.
“Aw come on now, Luna. What, I can’t go see my muse every once in a while?” he teased.
He leaned over the counter, his tail curled up his back. She scoffed and playfully shoved him off.
*THUMP* The door swung open. A scruffy looking dude came up to the counter and hastily ordered something that was aptly named “The Danger Zone”. Teo raised an eyebrow. It was Nero. This was their way of passing secret messages. Pretending to lean over the counter to Luna again, he gave Nero a chance to whisper.
“Its Kusha.”
Luna heard the conversation.
“Need to run and hide tail?” she teased.
Teo stood up and adjusted his vest. Nero downed his drink and slid on a bandana to cover his face..
“Not this time. This is neutral turf. And I got my guys.”
He turned and started to head out the building. Nero and a crimson figure in the back got up and followed him.
“Nice to see ya, Gharial.” Teo said to the Fatalis.
“Can’t miss a fight with my old friend, now can I?” said Gharial, as he lit a new cigarette.
Outside was the tempest dragon herself: Kusha. She had her arms crossed and a cocky smile on her face. Next to her was a Valstrax: Riley Jetstream.
“Well well. If it isn’t flame brain.” Kusha smirked.
Teo flexed his hands. Nero slid a hand towards his pockets. Riley started to shrug her shoulders.
“What are you doin’ here fork nose? Getting bored up north?” Teo scoffed.
“This is neutral territory. So if you will excuse me. Riley and I have thirsts to quench.” She flipped her hair and started to walk forward. Her shoulder shoved against Teo as she went in. Riley followed, sticking her tongue out at Teo and the others.
“Watch ‘em.” Teo said to Nero
Nero nodded and went back into the bar. Teo decided to hang out next to the entrance with Gharial.
“Just lettin’ her go?” Gharial asked.
“Its neutral ground. Gramps made us promise that.” Teo explained.
This was the first time they met since the meeting Grandpa Chammy arranged. He had made the two promise to keep this area neutral. And surprisingly, it worked. They had not had any fights recently. She stayed North, he stayed South.
Inside the bar, Kusha went up to the counter and sat down. Riley slid in next to her, ordering a shot of Fireball whisky.
“Gotta get somethin’ to warm up my passion for you.” Riley smiled.
Kusha playfully shoved her.
“You really are a dork, Riley.” Kusha laughed.
As far as Nero could tell, the two were being pretty pedestrian.
About an hour later, a felyne came up to Teo. It was Mocha, acting as casual as can be. She handed Teo a note, and then silently disappeared into the shadows. It was brief: “Black, Central” and it was signed with a pawprint. Teo glanced at Gharial, who was already snuffing out his cigarette.
“Black… This ain’t good. We need backup.”
Teo glanced into the bar where Kusha was.
“Teo wait. We should…” Gharial began, but there was no stopping him.
They were dangerously low on members. Teo went inside and slid the note to Kusha. At first, she was going to sweep it off the table, like a cat would, but something in his expression made her change her mind. She read the note… and both eyebrows went up.
“That is your territory.” she said seriously.
Teo nodded. Central was where Teo’s territory ended and Kusha’s territory began. It wasn’t quite Kusha’s holding yet, but it was dangerously close. Judging by the tense movements of her tail, Teo could see that she was anxious too.
“Truce?” he asked, offering his hand.
Kusha stared at it suspiciously. Riley next to her kept whispering “what if it's a trap?” behind her.
“How serious is this?” Kusha asked suddenly.
She had an idea what was going on in that area of Teo’s hood. Teo leaned down to her.
“Very.”
Kusha surprised them all. She took Teo’s hand and shook it.
A few hours later, they were gathered at Central in front of one of Teo’s buildings. Black’s men, The Fatalis Mafia, were searching every building in the area, terrorizing the civilians. The whole time since Mocha delivered the news, Gharial was unusually grim. Teo had brought all of his followers, and Kusha had brought herself and a few others, Riley included. They were armed with whatever they had.
“When Black comes here, we watch their movements. They are quick to anger and quicker to destroy.” Teo warned.
“Surprised the cops haven’t come yet.” Riley muttered to Kusha.
They surrounded the area. Nero and Riley were at the roof, keeping watch and taking the role of backup. Kusha and Teo were front with several others.
“Why this building flame breath?” Kusha asked.
“It's important.” he said, shortly.
They came like the dead of night. A company of fifteen armed to the teeth. But Black wasn’t there. Baring his fangs, Teo stepped up.
“What the hell do you want?” he asked.
“You know who we want, Teostra. Where’s the girl?” one of them asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Kusha snorted.
At this point, she understood what Teo was trying to do. The Mafia took out their weapons, and the rag tag gang alliance followed suit. They weren’t allowed to use guns in the streets, else risk the wrath of the local police. The fight was expected to be long and dirty = knives only.
“You’re not getting in.” Teo snarled as he ran forward, Kusha at his side.
Thus the blood bath began. Slashing, fighting tooth and nail, that was how a gangster fought. People in nearby homes and businesses were barricading their doors and watching with fearful eyes. Blood splattered on the ground. The Mafia quickly forced the other two back into the building. Even with back up, Teo and Kusha were outnumbered.
“Teo. We gotta flee.” came Gharial’s voice.
He was leaning against the wall, his right eye sealed shut and bleeding. Kusha, who had a few cuts on her arm, peeked out to see the action. Her eyes widened when she saw Nero and Riley. They had jumped into the fight to make sure their leaders could escape.
“Riley!” Kusha shouted, getting up and running back in.
Teo tried to stop her, but could not stop her in time. She was back in the fight, slashing and kicking like her life depended on it. Cursing his luck, Teo jumped back in. If Kusha was going to have a last stand, so would he.
“POLICE! POLICE!” someone shouted.
They turned and saw a group of police cars zooming in. Cops came out, armed with guns. A Mizutsune came out with a loudspeaker and handed the mic to a Rathian. For those who were familiar with run ins with the law, they knew the Mizu to be Lucy and the Rathian to be Alex, both hardened members of the force.
“Put your weapons down! You are surrounded!” Alex shouted.
Helicopters hovered overhead, aiming guns at all of them. The Mafia started to put their weapons down… when one of them suddenly grabbed Teo and another grabbed Kusha, putting knives to their necks. “Shoot us, they die.” the Mafia said.
The cops hesitated. Yes they were gangsters, but the police didn’t like having a high body count. Toe and Kusha snarled, trying to break free, but it was hard with the knives there.
“Kusha!” Riley cried, but there was little she could do with the cops and the Fatalis Mafia there.
What happened next was a bit of a mystery. A small ball had landed in the middle of the fight. Intense white mist came out, covering everyone’s vision. The cops went in and tried to grab the escaping gangsters. Lucy came in and managed to pistol whip one of the Mafia members, shoving him to the side in the process.
“Hands up! Hands up!” Alex shouted from the speaker.
When the smoke cleared, the police looked around, guns at the ready. They had taken down three of Black’s followers. Everyone else disappeared.
A few hours later… the sun was beginning to rise. Teo and Kusha’s gangs were sitting in a safe house, licking their wounds. Teo had decided to let Kusha in for going out of her way to help him. Kusha was kneeling next to Riley, wiping at a large gash she had on her forehead.
“You reckless dork… Almost made me panic back there.” Kusha scolded.
“You ain’t gonna get rid of this dork so easily.” Riley teased.
Teo went over to them and gave a small cough. He was pretty cut up too. Nothing a few bandages wouldn’t patch up. Kusha stood up to meet him.
“What?” she asked.
“Hey uh… I just wanted to say… thanks.” he said.
Kusha shrugged.
“You didn’t have to stick your neck out for me. Now this isn’t a truce but…”
She stopped him with a finger.
“I know you would’ve done the same flame breath.”
She knelt down and helped Riley to her feet.
“See you around furball. And… take care of the girl.”
With that, Kusha and her gang left. Teo watched as they disappeared into the alleyways. Gharial came up behind him, smoking a new cigarette. His face was patched up.
“Siding with the enemy? You’re gettin’ soft Teo.” Gharial chuckled.
“Like you can say anything. We did all of this for Ely.” Teo reminded.
Gharial sighed and nodded.
“Yeah. And I’m very thankful for that. Because of the standoff, Ely moved to a safer location.”
“Hey, what are friends for? We made this gang so we can stick together.” said Teo,
putting his hand around Gharial’s shoulder.
Teo gazed out and watched as the sun rose. Though the sun was his domain, the darkness was not. As the sun went up, the black shadows grew longer and farther.
